NZ HARNESS NEWS
Buster Brady sold
Well-performed Canterbury pacer Buster Brady has been sold to clients of leading Victorian trainer David Aiken.
His Christchurch breeder/owner/trainer, Jock Austin, said he was sad to see the horse go, but the time was right for him to have a change of scenery.
“I was sort of thinking of sending him to Aussie myself after Auckland, but he went a bit average up there so I figured he was due for a break and brought him home.
“He hadn’t been in the paddock long when I got a call out of the blue and figured it might be time to move him on with all these younger ones coming through the grades.”
Buster Brady won eight races and nearly $170,000 for Austin, but his best effort came when he didn’t even fill a placing.
“We had some huge thrills with him and won some nice races, but to run fifth in the New Zealand Cup last season was the best moment.”
License comings and goings
A number of drivers have graduated to the senior ranks with the transition into the new season.
The most notable of those are last season’s premiership winner Matt Anderson, and Auckland-based Tony Cameron.
Others include Matt Purvis, Bronson Munro, Robert Argue, Jeremy Markham, Nicole Harris and Tabatha Fensom.
Todd Quate has turned his hand to the amateur ranks while, at the time of print, Stacy Whatuira had opted not to take out a license for the new term.
New junior drivers this season will include three girls – Kerryn Tomlinson, Rebecca Heads and Taitlyn Hanara.
Phil Butcher has retired from driving while Ali Malcolmson and Kevin Williams are two drivers who have opted not to renew their open driving licenses.
Amongst the trainers, the two new partnerships are that of Jason and Amber Lethaby and Kirstin Barclay and Paul Ellis.
Ken and Tony Barron have gone their separate ways, as have Jonny Cox and Tim Butt, the latter of which is no longer licensed in New Zealand.
Trainers who opted not to renew their licenses were Fred Service, Bryce Wilson, Muriwai Watene and Gerard Van Der Kemp.
Gath picks up another Kiwi
Addington Breeders Crown heat winner Diamonds N Cash has been snapped up by clients of Victorian trainer Andy Gath.
After defeating Cullenburn and Think About Me in a three-horse go on July 13, he then ran a brave second to Mikey Maguire in the Rangiora Winter Cup.
He steps out at Melton on Saturday night for Gath and new owner, Queensland’s Norm Jenkin.
“We’re under no illusions for the Breeders Crown but heading forward he looks like being a fairly decent horse,” said Gath.
“He’s already gone 4.01 from a stand for two miles, which as a three-year-old is quite remarkable.”
Diamonds N Cash was trained by Robert and John Dunn here.
Two other North Canterbury pacers sold in the past week are former Gavin Smith-trained pair Miracle Rising and Red Moon Rising, both also heading across the ditch.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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